Viewpoint: It's unfortunate Kalamazoo chose to deny lights to Christian school students

I am writing in regard to the Kalamazoo Christian stadium lights controversy and the vote by Kalamazoo Zoning Board of Appeals.

I sent my children through the Kalamazoo Christian Schools system and have been a Kalamazoo Christian High School board member.

I was, frankly, appalled at what happened at the meeting regarding the above-mentioned request.

For more than 75 years, parents who have chosen to send their children to the Kalamazoo Christian Schools have also continued to pay taxes to support the Kalamazoo Public School system. We have also been happy to see the progress of their athletic programs, success of their athletes and the growth of both the Kalamazoo Central and Loy Norrix athletic facilities for the community to enjoy.

The Kalamazoo Christian Schools have opened their athletic facilities to the public and they are used regularly. We work with the USTA to help with the volume of tennis players each year as they attend the “Nats at the Zoo” and need warm-up facilities. We open our parking facilities to Western Michigan University and our facilities are available in many areas to be used by the general public.

Now for the first time in the history of the school system, we have the opportunity to provide our student athletes with a small stadium which would bring their games home. We are not asking for monetary support from Kalamazoo citizens. We are asking for support so that our student athletes can enjoy the facilities that are afforded your student athletes and rightfully so. We are not talking about weekly activities that last the whole school year. All football teams have home and away games. The football season is short. If the facility were used for soccer you would also be aware that soccer games do not extend into the late evening.

I love my community and I love the Kalamazoo Christian School system. I think the effort put forth to deprive the student athletes from Kalamazoo Christian High School the same privilege their fellow student athletes from the Kalamazoo Public Schools enjoy has been unfair. I have seen e-mails of glee and pride in the effort that was used to influence the board to vote against this small football facility. It saddens me that our students are not afforded the same privilege given to the public school system students.